Welcome to Timerssports
Fantasy Nascar Update -
A:
1. Kevin Harvick - Harvick looked to have the best car overall and didn't fall much compared to other top cars. He have been real strong in his last two starts (since joining SHR) at ACS and he is the favorite in my mind headed into the race. He posted the 4th-best Ten lap average in final practice and looked really strong on the long run from the lap times I tracked. I have no doubt that once he get the lead, he will check out on this field. He also been very good on the intermediate racetracks this season, which only further proves why he's a great fantasy option for Sunday's race.
My Overall Ranking: 1st
2. Kyle Busch - Busch have one of the best records at ACS and have won in his past 2 starts at this place. He might make it 3 straight this weekend though. Busch will roll off from the 6th starting position and seems to have plenty of speed in his #18 car from what I saw out of him on Saturday in pair of practices. I liked his falloff in practice. Add in his consistency this season (4 Top 5 finishes in 4 races) and you get something awesome! Headed into the race, I view him as top 5 to winning driver. Realistically I think he scores another top 5 finish, but comes up short to Harvick though.
My Overall Ranking: 2nd
3. Jimmie Johnson - I expected Johnson to come out firing with the car to beat this weekend, but just haven't turned out that way for him and his 48 team. He have been pretty good, but I don't think he will win come Sunday, He fell off a little more than guys like Harvick, Busch, Edwards,etc and also starts deeper in the field than they do as well. However I do fully expect him to contend for a top 5 to top 10 finish in Sunday's race. His track history suggests he will more than likely finish up inside the top 5, but his recent results suggests more of a top 10-ish finish. Personally I think he will finish somewhere between 3rd-7th most likely.
My Overall Ranking: 4th
4. Joey Logano - I preach consistency almost every single week in my posts and Logano haven't been consistent this season. Something I counted heavily on from him last season, but I believe he will turn it around in the upcoming races. I thought Logano was very good strong on the longer runs and have been solid on the intermediate racetracks this season. He posted the 4th-best single lap and 14th-best ten lap average. Logano is usually better on the long run and I think that will be a strength for him in Sunday's race. Headed into the race, I view him as a low-end Top 5 driver to a solid top 10 driver. I don't think he will win, but a win around 5th or 6th place is probably most ideal to me.
My Overall Ranking: 5th
5. Matt Kenseth - Matt Kenseth scares the shit out of me this weekend. He bad fast once again, but this dude cannot catch a break this season it seems. Obviously finished well last week at PIR. But I am not jumping on any Kenseth's value quite yet. Least not until he proves himself to me. If he can take his practice speed and translate it to raceday, then I'll consider him in the future for higher rankings. I thought Kenseth had one of the better cars in practice on Saturday and posted the 9th-best ten lap average. He posted that later in the practice session for those that are wondering. Headed into the race, I have him finishing just outside of the top 10, but he has top 5 upside without question though.
My Overall Ranking: 6th
Other Options - Dale Jr (9th), Brad Keselowski (10th), Denny Hamlin (11th) and Kurt Busch (12th)
B:
1. Carl Edwards - Edwards is the best driver in this tier of drivers and arguably had the second or maybe the 3rd best car in Saturday's pair of practices. He looked really fast and was either 1st and 2nd on the speed charts. He also displayed solid ten lap average in final practice with the 3rd-best ten lap average. I didn't really track or watch his lap times all too much (as I knew he was fast), but the results indicates he have a top 5 capable car. I believe he will give Harvick a run for his money on Sunday and finish somewhere up inside the top 5. Also his impressive track record at ACS makes him a even better fantasy play in my opinion. Not to mention a strong starting position only strengthen his case for this weekend.
My Overall Ranking: 3rd
2. Austin Dillon - I thought Austin Dillon had one of the best cars in practice and I think he will be able to keep the track position throughout the race. I know there some people out there who think he will drop like a rock (which is perfectly reasonable), but he have a lot of speed in his #3 car. Remember this is the same car that Ryan Newman drove to an 5th place finish last season. Not to mention, Dillon have been very solid this season on the intermediate racetracks. 11th at Atlatna and then of course 5th at Vegas. Even last week, he finished upside the top 10 at PIR (a short-flat racetrack). There is a lot of love about Austin Dillon at Cali. He loves Michigan (one of his favorite tracks he have mentioned before), this is basically Michigan's sister track. I know it doesn't mean much for this season's data, but that have to be a good sign for Dillon! Headed into the race, I view him as a top 10 driver.
My Overall Ranking: 7th
3. Martin Truex Jr - I have kind of lost the love for Truex really at the moment, as he have finished outside of the top 10 in back-to-back races. Once again he is showing plenty of speed (like in previous races), but can he take that speed and transfer it into results? I don't know, if he can honestly. Since the Daytona 500, he have finished worse in every single race. That's a scary trend, even though it only a 3-race data simple. When a driver is developing this type of trend, I usually just back away and play the wait and see game. He have some speed in his car and should least contend for a top 10 finish. However I would it to be noted that he had the 2nd-best car at Atlanta (tire-wear is a big factor there too), so there that for those are wanting to roll with him.
My Overall Ranking: 8th
4. Ryan Newman - Newman haven't been quite as good as Austin Dillon was on Saturday, but still he have been very good this weekend. He finished 5th last season (as I mentioned earlier) and have found good amount of success with RCR on the intermediates. He haven't gotten the results this season that he have deserved, but every week he have been a top 15 driver at least. I don't think ACS will any difference. I didn't pay much attention to him in practice, but based on common sense (and what I have heard from others) he is probably a top 15 driver headed into the race. That one thing you can almost count on week-to-week. He almost always have a car that will run in the teens. Based on his final practice efforts, I would say that sounds about right (again).
My Overall Ranking: 13th
5. Paul Menard - Another RCR car makes the list and this one shouldn't be that much of surprise. To me, Menard haven't been too good this weekend overall (compared to his teammates). Honestly he looked like the worst of the RCR cars. However he wasn't terrible though. Paul should be a top 15 driver headed into Sunday's race. But I am not sure, if he anything beyond that though. I did watch his lap times in final practice and they just didn't seems to be on the same level with the top 10 or top 12 drivers. I say he is around a 15th to 17th place driver. He might finish a few positions better than that though. He have finishes of 15th and 18th on the intermediate racetracks this season (15th at Vegas and 18th at Atlanta - ran in the 20s though). To be completely honest, I am not really loving Menard like I was at this time last season. Something to me seems a little off about that 27 team. While they aren't bad, they just aren't showing me enough in practices (or the races).
My Overall Ranking: 14th
Other Options - Aric Almirola (15th), Kyle Larson (18th), JMac(20th)
C:
1. Ryan Blaney - Blaney have impressed the hell out of me this season, as he been fast week in and week out pretty much. ACS have been no difference. He qualified up in the teens and seems to have good speed overall. I wouldn't be shocked by another top 10 finish out him, but realistically I would say he is around an 15th or so place driver. But that of course you consider his inexperience (like I leaving room for error). I am sure he will hover for another quality top 10 or top 12 finish when the checkers wave on Sunday!
My Overall Ranking: 16th
2. Chase Elliott - Elliott is another impressive rookie and I personally have thought he have been better than Blaney. But he is way too inconsistent for me to trust at the moment though. He wrecked out at Daytona, finished 8th at Atlanta, wrecked out at Vegas and finished 8th again at PIR. Not exactly numbers you want as your fantasy picks. However HMS have a history of first-time winners at ACS. Few active Cup champ first time winners, like 6-time Champion Jimmie Johnson (in 2002 - 10th career race) and Kyle Busch (in 2005 - 10th career race). Chase Elliott will make his 10th career start on Sunday. I am not saying that Elliott will win, but it would be fitting if he does.
My Overall Ranking: 17th
3. Brian Vickers - Vickers is the final driver in this tier to make my post. I like Vickers a lot this weekend. He haven't shown impressive amount of speed so far, but he pretty consistent in the teens I would say. I am not expecting him to go up there and contend for a top 10 run. However I do expect him to stabize himself as top 20 driver and possibly finish inside the top 15 when the checkers wave. He have a history of running well here recently (when he haven't dealt with health issues). I think he finishes somewhere between 14th-19th place range.
My Overall Ranking: 19th
Twitter - @JeffNathans18
Fantasy Nascar Update -
A:
1. Kevin Harvick - Harvick looked to have the best car overall and didn't fall much compared to other top cars. He have been real strong in his last two starts (since joining SHR) at ACS and he is the favorite in my mind headed into the race. He posted the 4th-best Ten lap average in final practice and looked really strong on the long run from the lap times I tracked. I have no doubt that once he get the lead, he will check out on this field. He also been very good on the intermediate racetracks this season, which only further proves why he's a great fantasy option for Sunday's race.
My Overall Ranking: 1st
2. Kyle Busch - Busch have one of the best records at ACS and have won in his past 2 starts at this place. He might make it 3 straight this weekend though. Busch will roll off from the 6th starting position and seems to have plenty of speed in his #18 car from what I saw out of him on Saturday in pair of practices. I liked his falloff in practice. Add in his consistency this season (4 Top 5 finishes in 4 races) and you get something awesome! Headed into the race, I view him as top 5 to winning driver. Realistically I think he scores another top 5 finish, but comes up short to Harvick though.
My Overall Ranking: 2nd
3. Jimmie Johnson - I expected Johnson to come out firing with the car to beat this weekend, but just haven't turned out that way for him and his 48 team. He have been pretty good, but I don't think he will win come Sunday, He fell off a little more than guys like Harvick, Busch, Edwards,etc and also starts deeper in the field than they do as well. However I do fully expect him to contend for a top 5 to top 10 finish in Sunday's race. His track history suggests he will more than likely finish up inside the top 5, but his recent results suggests more of a top 10-ish finish. Personally I think he will finish somewhere between 3rd-7th most likely.
My Overall Ranking: 4th
4. Joey Logano - I preach consistency almost every single week in my posts and Logano haven't been consistent this season. Something I counted heavily on from him last season, but I believe he will turn it around in the upcoming races. I thought Logano was very good strong on the longer runs and have been solid on the intermediate racetracks this season. He posted the 4th-best single lap and 14th-best ten lap average. Logano is usually better on the long run and I think that will be a strength for him in Sunday's race. Headed into the race, I view him as a low-end Top 5 driver to a solid top 10 driver. I don't think he will win, but a win around 5th or 6th place is probably most ideal to me.
My Overall Ranking: 5th
5. Matt Kenseth - Matt Kenseth scares the shit out of me this weekend. He bad fast once again, but this dude cannot catch a break this season it seems. Obviously finished well last week at PIR. But I am not jumping on any Kenseth's value quite yet. Least not until he proves himself to me. If he can take his practice speed and translate it to raceday, then I'll consider him in the future for higher rankings. I thought Kenseth had one of the better cars in practice on Saturday and posted the 9th-best ten lap average. He posted that later in the practice session for those that are wondering. Headed into the race, I have him finishing just outside of the top 10, but he has top 5 upside without question though.
My Overall Ranking: 6th
Other Options - Dale Jr (9th), Brad Keselowski (10th), Denny Hamlin (11th) and Kurt Busch (12th)
B:
1. Carl Edwards - Edwards is the best driver in this tier of drivers and arguably had the second or maybe the 3rd best car in Saturday's pair of practices. He looked really fast and was either 1st and 2nd on the speed charts. He also displayed solid ten lap average in final practice with the 3rd-best ten lap average. I didn't really track or watch his lap times all too much (as I knew he was fast), but the results indicates he have a top 5 capable car. I believe he will give Harvick a run for his money on Sunday and finish somewhere up inside the top 5. Also his impressive track record at ACS makes him a even better fantasy play in my opinion. Not to mention a strong starting position only strengthen his case for this weekend.
My Overall Ranking: 3rd
2. Austin Dillon - I thought Austin Dillon had one of the best cars in practice and I think he will be able to keep the track position throughout the race. I know there some people out there who think he will drop like a rock (which is perfectly reasonable), but he have a lot of speed in his #3 car. Remember this is the same car that Ryan Newman drove to an 5th place finish last season. Not to mention, Dillon have been very solid this season on the intermediate racetracks. 11th at Atlatna and then of course 5th at Vegas. Even last week, he finished upside the top 10 at PIR (a short-flat racetrack). There is a lot of love about Austin Dillon at Cali. He loves Michigan (one of his favorite tracks he have mentioned before), this is basically Michigan's sister track. I know it doesn't mean much for this season's data, but that have to be a good sign for Dillon! Headed into the race, I view him as a top 10 driver.
My Overall Ranking: 7th
3. Martin Truex Jr - I have kind of lost the love for Truex really at the moment, as he have finished outside of the top 10 in back-to-back races. Once again he is showing plenty of speed (like in previous races), but can he take that speed and transfer it into results? I don't know, if he can honestly. Since the Daytona 500, he have finished worse in every single race. That's a scary trend, even though it only a 3-race data simple. When a driver is developing this type of trend, I usually just back away and play the wait and see game. He have some speed in his car and should least contend for a top 10 finish. However I would it to be noted that he had the 2nd-best car at Atlanta (tire-wear is a big factor there too), so there that for those are wanting to roll with him.
My Overall Ranking: 8th
4. Ryan Newman - Newman haven't been quite as good as Austin Dillon was on Saturday, but still he have been very good this weekend. He finished 5th last season (as I mentioned earlier) and have found good amount of success with RCR on the intermediates. He haven't gotten the results this season that he have deserved, but every week he have been a top 15 driver at least. I don't think ACS will any difference. I didn't pay much attention to him in practice, but based on common sense (and what I have heard from others) he is probably a top 15 driver headed into the race. That one thing you can almost count on week-to-week. He almost always have a car that will run in the teens. Based on his final practice efforts, I would say that sounds about right (again).
My Overall Ranking: 13th
5. Paul Menard - Another RCR car makes the list and this one shouldn't be that much of surprise. To me, Menard haven't been too good this weekend overall (compared to his teammates). Honestly he looked like the worst of the RCR cars. However he wasn't terrible though. Paul should be a top 15 driver headed into Sunday's race. But I am not sure, if he anything beyond that though. I did watch his lap times in final practice and they just didn't seems to be on the same level with the top 10 or top 12 drivers. I say he is around a 15th to 17th place driver. He might finish a few positions better than that though. He have finishes of 15th and 18th on the intermediate racetracks this season (15th at Vegas and 18th at Atlanta - ran in the 20s though). To be completely honest, I am not really loving Menard like I was at this time last season. Something to me seems a little off about that 27 team. While they aren't bad, they just aren't showing me enough in practices (or the races).
My Overall Ranking: 14th
Other Options - Aric Almirola (15th), Kyle Larson (18th), JMac(20th)
C:
1. Ryan Blaney - Blaney have impressed the hell out of me this season, as he been fast week in and week out pretty much. ACS have been no difference. He qualified up in the teens and seems to have good speed overall. I wouldn't be shocked by another top 10 finish out him, but realistically I would say he is around an 15th or so place driver. But that of course you consider his inexperience (like I leaving room for error). I am sure he will hover for another quality top 10 or top 12 finish when the checkers wave on Sunday!
My Overall Ranking: 16th
2. Chase Elliott - Elliott is another impressive rookie and I personally have thought he have been better than Blaney. But he is way too inconsistent for me to trust at the moment though. He wrecked out at Daytona, finished 8th at Atlanta, wrecked out at Vegas and finished 8th again at PIR. Not exactly numbers you want as your fantasy picks. However HMS have a history of first-time winners at ACS. Few active Cup champ first time winners, like 6-time Champion Jimmie Johnson (in 2002 - 10th career race) and Kyle Busch (in 2005 - 10th career race). Chase Elliott will make his 10th career start on Sunday. I am not saying that Elliott will win, but it would be fitting if he does.
My Overall Ranking: 17th
3. Brian Vickers - Vickers is the final driver in this tier to make my post. I like Vickers a lot this weekend. He haven't shown impressive amount of speed so far, but he pretty consistent in the teens I would say. I am not expecting him to go up there and contend for a top 10 run. However I do expect him to stabize himself as top 20 driver and possibly finish inside the top 15 when the checkers wave. He have a history of running well here recently (when he haven't dealt with health issues). I think he finishes somewhere between 14th-19th place range.
My Overall Ranking: 19th
Twitter - @JeffNathans18
